THE Italian FA has vetoed attempts by their English counterparts to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Heysel disaster.

England face Italy in Turin a week today at the home of Juventus, who contested the 1985 European Cup Final with Liverpool. Thirty-nine supporters, mostly Italians, died following crowd trouble before kick-off.

The English FA asked Phil Neal, who was Liverpool captain for the game at the Heysel Stadium and who won 50 caps for England, to lay flowers before next Tuesday's friendly at a memorial for Heysel at the new Juventus Stadium.

However, those plans have been shelved after the Italian FA said Juventus wanted to mark the anniversary of the disaster, which happened on May 29, at the time.

When Liverpool played Juventus at Anfield in the Champions League in 2005, 20 years after the disaster, a gesture intended to express regret and sorrow was also rebuffed.

Juventus supporters turned their backs when fans from both clubs carried a banner with the words Memoria e amicizia, in memory and friendship. Neal, Michel Platini and Ian Rush, who all played at Heysel, watched from the centre circle as the expression was snubbed.